4 . Transactions. — Zoology. 



probably considerable extent, and is represented in Australia by two species 

 only, evidently also stray wanderers. Of the ten endemic genera, none are 

 very closely related to Australian forms ; the nearest approach is made by 

 Nymphostola and Proteodes, monotypic genera which are certainly akin to 

 Hoplltica, but whose common ancestor must have possessed characters not 

 now exhibited by any allied Australian genus. Nearly the same may be 

 said of the affinity of Atomotrlcha and Brachysara with Eulechria. The 

 other six, of which three are probably rather extensive, are more closely 

 allied to each other and to (Ecophora than to any Australian form. Finally, 

 although (Ecophora is a cosmopolitan genus, the New Zealand species 

 appear to form a single numerous group, having no direct affinity with the 

 Australian species of the genus, any more than with the European. From 

 these facts it may be concluded that it is not improbable that a slight inter- 

 change of species has taken place at some date not exceedingly remote, but 

 that it is certain that almost the whole of the group is of much more ancient 

 origin, and was derived from another and quite distinct region. I consider 

 it probable that a much closer affinity will be found to exist with South 

 America, of which little is known in this group ; but there is one well- 

 defined case of relationship, viz., between Gonionota and Semiocosma, which 

 are apparently more nearly related together than to any other genus. 

 Attention should also be given to the undoubted affinity of Trachypepla 

 with the European Anchinia and Cacochroa ; these latter are very small 

 genera, remote from any other European forms, and of Alpine habit; they 

 are probably surviving remnants of a once more extensive stock. 



It is remarkable that of the New Zealand genera not one has vein 7 of 

 the forewings terminating in the hindmargin. This character is found in 

 more than half of the Australian genera, many of them being of great 

 extent and doubtless also of considerable age. Nearly all the New Zealand 

 species belong to the group in which vein 7 terminates in the costa, and 

 this is undoubtedly much older, being the original type of the family ; a few 

 are of the intermediate form, in which this vein terminates in the apex. It 

 is clear, then, that this portion of the New Zealand fauna is older than the 

 corresponding group in Australia. It is important that the food-plants of 

 the larvae should be ascertained ; they would probably point to the oldest 

 portion of the New Zealand flora. It is probable that Trachypepla and 

 Semiocosma, like other principal genera of these islands, are attached to 

 lichens or mosses. Several species of (Ecophora seem to be specially 

 adapted to Fagus solandri, as also is Proteodes, all being protectively 

 coloured. 



It will be necessary to examine the South Pacific Islands, before the 

 origin of the New Zealand fauna can be decided. I made a hurried 



